Sydney, Oct 24 – The emotional atmosphere is set to peak as fans prepare to witness what could be the final appearance of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma on Australian soil during the third ODI on Saturday. Rohit Sharma has recently shown resilience with a fighting score of 73 off 97 balls, despite the team’s struggles, while Kohli faces scrutiny after recording back-to-back ducks for the first time in his international career, raising concerns among his devoted followers about his future.

Rohit Sharma first played in Australia during the CB Series in 2007-08, while Kohli made his senior team debut in the 2011-12 season, impressively scoring a Test century in Adelaide. With no ODI series scheduled in Australia for the next two years, the likelihood of seeing this iconic duo in Indian colors again is slim.

The final ODI at the historic SCG holds significance beyond being a “dead rubber,” especially for Kohli, whose future in the sport remains uncertain. Fans are eager to see his signature cover drives and lofted shots as the Indian team aims to avoid a 0-3 whitewash under the guidance of coach Gautam Gambhir, which would not bode well for the team, even with the ODI World Cup two years away.

India’s recent record at the SCG is concerning, with only one win in the last five ODIs against Australia. Skipper Shubman Gill and Kohli are both in need of substantial performances, and Gambhir will be counting on them to deliver in this crucial match.

After being outplayed in the previous two games, the Indian side is looking to revert to its strategy of bolstering batting at the expense of bowling resources. The omission of a genuine match-winner like Kuldeep Yadav has raised eyebrows, especially given the struggles faced by Australian batters against Axar Patel and Washington Sundar.

The current Indian squad has focused on multi-skilled players, yet many are proving to be mere bits-and-pieces cricketers. Nitish Kumar Reddy’s underutilization at No. 8 in the batting order and Harshit Rana’s inconsistent pace highlight the challenges faced by the team. Prasidh Krishna’s inclusion in the playing eleven is deemed essential.

From the first two matches, Axar Patel has emerged as a standout performer, showcasing his growth as a batter and his ability to bowl steady overs. If he continues this form, India may reconsider Ravindra Jadeja’s role in 50-over cricket.

On the Australian side, the team has embarked on a two-year journey toward the next ODI World Cup, with players like Matthew Short, Mitchell Owen, and Cooper Connolly demonstrating impressive technique and strategic execution under pressure. Matt Kuhnemann, who excelled in the rain-affected opening match, may team up with Adam Zampa, strengthening the hosts’ bowling attack.

Australia will be looking for their opener, Travis Head, to deliver a signature innings that has eluded him in the first two games.

Squads:
India: Shubman Gill (captain), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna.
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (captain), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey (wk), Jos Inglis (wk), Cooper Connolly, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Jack Edwards, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Matt Kuhnemann.

Match starts at 9 am IST.